Fresh science on anti-aging, from Avon

Avon researchers have identified two biological factors that make for a more nuanced understanding of why skin changes with time and how lines and wrinkles form.

Presenting at the Summer Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology late last week in New York City, company scientists highlighted their findings about the functions of dynein as well as the role of autophagy as they relate to skin aging.

Protein power​One Avon team—Yong Zhuang, Siming Chen, Raaj Khusial, John Lyga, Russell Wyborski—explored the transporter protein dynein and how the level of this protein correlates to skin aging. They “discovered that the level of dynein in skin cells declines with age and that a deficiency of dyneins caused an impairment in the transport of nutrients within skin cells, which can contribute to increased signs of aging on the skin's surface,”​ explained the company in a press release about the findings.

Looking ahead to prospective skin care applications for this research the researchers “postulate that boosting dynein level or activity in skin cells could provide better nourishment to cells and better detoxification of cells, which can lead to healthier cells and thus reduce wrinkles and lines, improve texture, increase overall strength and elasticity of skin,” ​according to an abstract published on the Academy’s site.

“Altogether, our results suggest that dyneins are essential for the well-being of human skin fibroblasts, by transporting essential nutrients and the waste materials to the right place inside these cells,” ​wrote the scientists.

Cellular turnover​The Avon research into skin aging and autophagy went a bit farther, looking at what, besides age, affects the rate of autophagy and what skin care ingredients might be used to help motivate the process.

The team found a correlation between diminished autophagy and UV exposure. “Interestingly, we have observed that UV-irradiation and free radical inducers also suppress autophagy activity, suggesting autophagy as a common denominator for intrinsic and extrinsic skin aging.” ​

And they experimented with the extract of a vine, Tiliacora triandra, and discovered that it “can stimulate autophagy activity, enhance differentiation and stimulate collagen synthesis in skin cells in vitro,” ​reported the team in their published abstract

The Avon press release hints that these latest findings may be applied to reformulations or new products for the company’s anti-aging skin care: “This is the kind of research that has kept Avon's ANEW brand at the forefront of skin aging advances since its launch.”​